In this paper, boron carbide (B₄C) ceramics were added to a copper (Cu) base, to improve the mechanical properties and wear resistance of pure copper. The B₄C/Cu composites with different B₄C contents, were obtained by mechanical mixing and discharge plasma sintering methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy spectrum analysis (EDS), and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) were used, to observe and analyze the microstructures of the B₄C/Cu composites. The influences of the B₄C content on the hardness, density, conductivity, and wear resistance were also studied. The experimental results show that B₄C has an important effect on Cu. With increasing B₄C content, both the density and conductivity of the B₄C/Cu composites gradually decrease. The hardness of the Cu-15 wt.% B₄C composite has the highest value, 86 HBW (Brinell hardness tungsten carbide ball indenter), which is 79.2% higher than that of pure copper. However, when the B₄C amount increases to 20 wt.%, the hardness decreases due to the metallic connection being weakened in the material. The Cu-15 wt.% B₄C composite has the lowest volume loss, indicating that it has the best wear resistance. Analyses of worn B₄C/Cu composite surfaces suggest that deep and narrow grooves, as well as sharp ridges, appear on the worn pure Cu surface, but on the worn Cu-15 wt.% B₄C composite surface, the furrows become shallow and few. In particular, ridge formation cannot be found on the worn Cu-15 wt.% B₄C composite surface, which represents the enhancement in wear resistance.

Tantalum–tungsten alloys have been widely used in different industrial sectors—for example, in chemical, medical, aerospace, and military equipment. However, they are usually difficult to cut because of the large cutting force, rapid tool wear, and poor surface finish during machining. This paper presents the machining performance and cutting tool wear of AlCrN/TiAlN-coated carbide tools during the milling process of Ta-2.5W. The effects of cutting parameters on the cutting forces and surface roughness of AlCrN/TiAlN-coated carbide tools were obtained and analyzed. The results show that the wear resistance of AlCrN-coated tools is better than that of TiAlN-coated tools, and that the main wear mechanisms of both cutting tools are crater wear, adhesive wear, and diffusion wear. Compared to TiAlN-coated tools, AlCrN-coated tools reduced the cutting forces by 1% to 15% and decreased the surface roughness by 6% to 20%. A cutting speed within the range of 80–120 m/min can ensure a low cutting force while maintaining good surface roughness, which is more conducive to machining Ta-2.5W.

The dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of as-extruded AM50 magnesium alloy was modelled and simulated by a cellular automaton (CA) method. Isothermal compression experiments were conducted, and the characteristic parameters in the CA model were obtained by the testing stress–strain flow curves in a wide temperature range of 250–450 °C and strain rate range of 0.001–10 s⁻¹. The flow stress, DRX volume fraction and DRX grain size of the as-extruded AM50 magnesium alloy were predicted by CA simulation. The results showed that the DRX behavior of the studied magnesium alloy was susceptive with the temperature and strain rate; meanwhile, the prediction results were approximate to the experimental values, indicating that the developed CA model can make a confident estimation on the DRX behavior of the as-extruded AM50 magnesium alloy in high temperature conditions.

The present study evaluated the β recrystallization behavior and deformation microtexture evolution of TB6 titanium alloy (Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al) taking place during isothermal compression. The hot deformation tests were carried out in the temperature range below the β phase transition temperature and spanned a wide strain rate range of 0.0001~1 s⁻¹. Microstructure evolution on β phase, including its recrystallization behavior and microtexture formation, is sensitive to the strain rates, whereas the average grain size of equiaxed α phase exhibits a slight increase with the strain rate decreasing. Moreover, β recrystallization is not homogeneous among the prior β grains, and is characterized by: (I) enriched β sub-grains, (II) sporadically or chain-like distributed recrystallized β grains with a grain size far less than the prior β grains, and (III) wave-shaped β grain boundaries. The β recrystallization is inadequate and its orientation takes on the inheritance characteristic, which makes the β microtexture significant after deformation. At a lower strain rate, the high activity of the {11−2} and {12−3} slip systems induced the crystal rotation around , but such crystal rotation did not destroy the Burgers orientation relationship (BOR), which could be accounted for by the generation of a strong microtexture of //RD. The divergences on β recrystallization fraction, the operation of slip systems, and initial crystal orientations explain the different microtexture components with varied intensities under different deformation conditions.

This paper investigates the microstructure, texture, and mechanical properties of the Mg-4Zn-1Mn-0.5Ca alloy subjected to hot extrusion under varying conditions of temperature (260 °C, 300 °C, 340 °C) and extrusion speed (0.01 mm/s, 0.1 mm/s, 1 mm/s). The primary objective is to determine the optimal extrusion parameters within the selected experimental range for achieving superior mechanical properties. The results indicate that, when extruded at a constant speed of 0.1 mm/s, the alloy exhibits optimal performance at 340 °C, with a yield strength of 202 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 306 MPa, and elongation at fracture of 18.9%. A decrease in extrusion temperature leads to an increase in yield strength but a reduction in ductility. Specifically, the UTS reaches its peak at 342 MPa at 300 °C, while it drops slightly to 329 MPa at 260 °C. The final results show that the comprehensive mechanical properties of the Mg-4Zn-1Mn-0.5Ca alloy obtained by hot extrusion treatment with an extrusion temperature of 300 °C and extrusion speed of 0.1 mm/s are the best and can effectively improve the mechanical properties of the alloy and provide a good choice for the preparation of other biodegradable magnesium alloy products.

Due to its inherent high hardness, strength, and plasticity, tantalum–tungsten (Ta-W) alloy poses a considerable challenge in machining, resulting in pronounced tool wear, diminished tool lifespan, and suboptimal surface quality. This study undertook experiments utilizing uncoated carbide tools, TiAlN-coated carbide tools, and AlTiN-coated carbide tools for machining Ta-2.5W alloy. The investigation delved into the intricacies of surface temperature, tool longevity, and the distinctive wear characteristics under varying coating materials and cutting parameters. Concurrently, a comprehensive exploration of the wear mechanisms affecting the tools was conducted. Among the observed wear modes, flank wear emerged as the predominant issue for turning tools. Across all three tool types, adhesive wear and diffusion wear were identified as the principal wear mechanisms, with the TiAlN-coated tools displaying a reduced level of wear compared to their AlTiN-coated counterparts. The experimental findings conclusively revealed that TiAlN-coated carbide tools exhibited an extended tool lifespan in comparison to uncoated carbide tools and AlTiN-coated carbide tools, signifying superior cutting performance.